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Thanks! I have to finish this one, build the second stand and the canopy, which will have 1 frame with 2 removable tops like my 75 gal. I didn't want a heavy cabinet look for the stands, so I have a unique idea for finishing the front and sides. I have decided to invest in Rena XP2s (M) and inline heaters for these 2 tanks and I need to make the stand cat-proof, but accessible thru the front. In my head my idea will work - hope it does in reality!

Really awesome, I give you a lot of credit... I don't think my building skills are up to the challenge of doing stands!

For goodness sakes, you just built a sump, which is way more difficult than this stand! I love to build things, but I think a sump would be a bit more than I could handle. Plumbing is not my forte!

My dad built our house single handed and he and my brother built my brother's house. At that time (1964 - oops, I just dated myself), I was just old enough to help. My husband (God rest his soul) and I gutted the 2nd floor of our first house (a brick Cape Cod), removed walls on the first floor and redid the whole thing. I stick to smaller projects now. I love going to Menard's and figuring out how I will put something together. Did I mention, I LOVE Menard's!

+ 1 for your carpentry skills, my Grandfather was a carpenter by trade and my Dad handed down a few skills to me. I always admire people who can "do it themselves".

Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.
Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit. -Vince Lombardi
“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” ― John WoodenSandy Hook Elementary......Lest We Forget
See my profile for my tanks and what fish I keep

Great job gronlaura...I too admire your skills...what kind of wood are those 2x6's made of, sure are a nice color, unfinished...

What type and size of screws?

All the wood is pine, #2 Better grade stock. It's a little bit more expensive, but much better than construction grade. I use #8, 2-1/2 inch Spax stainless steel wood-to-wood screws, 45 screws per box. I get them at Menard's. The screws cost as much as the wood! You don't have to use SS - I do because they won't rust. Wood cost for the 29 gal stand - $20.52, screws $22.00 and I need a few more! There will be 112 screws in this stand.

I haven't done any more work on the stand as it's been so hot here (Slaphppy7, I can see your "you don't know what hot is" expression!). Yesterday is was 97, today and tomorrow to be even hotter. I need to hand cut the corner leg supports and don't want to do it in the house. This weekend should be much cooler and I can hopefully finish the stand (except for paint).

If anyone is interested in building this stand and would like the cut lengths for the wood, let me know your exact tank size and the height of the tank (measure from the bottom of the tank to the floor). Also, whether you are using a plywood top and styrofoam or just stryofoam (I would need the thickness measurement of each). You should use styrofoam between the stand and the tank to prevent pressure on the bottom glass from any imperfections or unevenness in the wood. You don't have to use the plywood top, as the tank frame is supported entirely by the 2x6 rectangle.

I discovered this thread thanks to Slaphppy's thread on canister filters which turned into a discussion on stands. You are both inspiring me to try my hand at my own stand!

I have only basic experience working with wood, though. I would need to have Home Depot cut ALL the pieces for me. My concern is that you mentioned having to hand-cut each of the 8 outside legs to make sure the stand is perfectly level. I don't have the tools or experience to do that (I am more of an electrical guy!). Was that simply because your floor is not level? If my floor is perfectly level (which it is -- i just checked!) and I ask Home Depot to cut the 8 legs to precisely the same length, would I have to worry? Is their cutting precise enough, or will I get pieces of wood that are all off by a fraction of an inch, resulting in a stand that is not level and stable? I feel I can only attempt this if I can rely on Home Depot cutting the wood with enough precision so that I won't have to cut anything at home.

I discovered this thread thanks to Slaphppy's thread on canister filters which turned into a discussion on stands. You are both inspiring me to try my hand at my own stand!

I have only basic experience working with wood, though. I would need to have Home Depot cut ALL the pieces for me. My concern is that you mentioned having to hand-cut each of the 8 outside legs to make sure the stand is perfectly level. I don't have the tools or experience to do that (I am more of an electrical guy!). Was that simply because your floor is not level? If my floor is perfectly level (which it is -- i just checked!) and I ask Home Depot to cut the 8 legs to precisely the same length, would I have to worry? Is their cutting precise enough, or will I get pieces of wood that are all off by a fraction of an inch, resulting in a stand that is not level and stable? I feel I can only attempt this if I can rely on Home Depot cutting the wood with enough precision so that I won't have to cut anything at home.

You would still want to wait to cut those 8 pieces. I am cutting them myself because they are 8 different lengths and I want to fit them as I go. The guy at my Home Depot did a great job cutting all the other pieces. Assemble and level the stand where it will go. Then measure the 8 corner pieces (between the 2x6 rectangles). If your floor is level, they should all be pretty much the same. Talk to your Home Depot person - they should be able to do accurate cuts. It's better if they are a hair long, but they can't be short. You can always use a very coarse grit sand paper to shorten them a bit, if needed.